During the 1970’s and 1980’s, the Von Erich family – including its four sons, Kevin, Kerry, David and Michael engage in the sport of professional wrestling – each aiming to win the title of World Heavy Weight.
As tragedy continuously effects their family, the patriarch – Fritz a former near world camp himself torments his sons to get the dream he never achieved.
Following the eldest of the sons, Kevin – he continuously worries that his family is cursed, as tragedy continuously affects them.
Direction
Wonderful direction from Sean Durkin – who perfectly encapsulates the look and feel of the era of the 70’s and 80’s.
The vintage clothes/costumes as well as the sets – which is complemented by the camera work from Durkin makes you feel like you are back in that timeline. I absolutely loved the retro ‘tv’ intros when the many wrestling matches started.
Cast/Characters
An A+ to all the cast who each get plenty to do – and we the viewer feel plenty towards them.
Zac Efron plays Kevin – the eldest of the siblings we meet in the film (his older brother Jack Jr died as a child). He physically transformed himself into the muscle bound man. His emotional moments are strong too, with an amazing pairing with Lily James as his wife Pam. their early courtship is sweet as he discusses the love for his brothers.
Later moments in the film as sadly some pass away – and others are too injured to ‘perform’ with him, you can see his heartbreak as he wants to be with them. The last moments of the film – where he is now the only one left – and sad he is ‘no longer a brother’ – they tell him ‘they will be his brother’ will leave you with thears in your eyes.
Holt McCallany and Maura Tierney play the boys parents Fritz and Doris. They are two of the most unlikable parents seen on screen.
Fritz own desire to win the world heavyweight belt no matter what, he then imparts his dream onto his sons, which eventually gets most of them killed. It feels at times he almost hates his children, barely showing any emotion towards them like when Kevin almost gets his back broken, and Kerry cannot go to the canceled Olympics. He pits them against each other, even ranking them from his favourite to his least favourite, not even sarcastically.
Tierney’s Doris is equally as problematic, as she enables Fritz behaviour towards the boys – and shows the same apathy towards them as he does. There is very little love she shows them, and even goes to the point of ignoring the concerns they have (when Kevin goes to her abut Fritz treatment of Mike), or refusing to accept their other aspirations (Mike’s desire to be a musician). Her comments about Pam at the wedding are foul too.
The performances by other cast members Jeremy Allen White (as Kerry), Lilly James (as Pam), Harris Dickinson (as David) and Stanley Simons (as Mike) are equally as impressive.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
I have never been much into Wrestling as a sport personally, but even I found the Wrestling action engaging in its brutality. Some of the many matches show just how violent they can be, like the Harley Race v Kevin match.
The heart of the narrative is how the patriarch Fritz’ dream is what eventually and literally kills most of his sons. David, through injury, and the suicide of three of his sons (Kerry, Mike and the not shown or mentioned on screen youngest son Chris. Chris was left out of the story intentionally as there was too much tragedy already within the family the writers could not fathom to include another.
Other parts of the story were also intentionally left out, such as Kerry’s marriage and the death of his daughter at the age of just one. The curse that the family is believed to have – may be truer than let on.
There are some truly heart-wrenching moments later in the film, such as when Kerry passes away and he goes to his version of ‘heaven’ – and it is the river that he and his brothers went to, to have moments of peace and escape their fathers dream.
The other is as mentioned earlier, Kevin, now brotherless following all of their passing – sits watching his sons play. He is heartbroken because as he says to his sons ‘I used to be a brother, and now I’m not’ to which they reply ‘we’ll be your brothers’.
Score/Soundtrack
A brilliant score by Richard Reed Parry – with several key scenes of recognition; during Ric Flair’s speech before his fight with Kevin, during David’s funeral and when Kevin eventually leaves the world of wrestling to be with his family.
Overall
Absolutely stellar sports film, and one that I did not think I would enjoy as much as I did.
A strong recommend, and another that I have discussed on my podcast with my mate Anthony. Please check it out in the link below.
4/5
Please check out my Podcast on this episode through your favourite app.
https://antandrymoviechats.podbean.com/e/the-iron-claw-2023/
Or through YouTube (please subscribe)
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